BOWFIRE FACTS:
Members: Lenny Solomon
Genre: Classical, World, Rock
Origin: Canada
Formed in 2000 by renowned violinist Lenny Solomon, Bowfire is an exciting musical show that combines a wide array of styles while offering unique spins on popular classic tunes as well as original songs. With a collection of nine of the most talented classical musicians around, Bowfire offers audiences with a show that they will not be able to see anywhere else.
The group debuted soon after it was formed when they took the stage at Expo 2000 in Hannover, Germany. Encouraged by a wildly popular response, the group performed at the Governor-General's Awards - a considerable honor in Canada.
Though Bowfire had achieved success in Canada and overseas, it wasn't until the summer of 2001 that they made an appearance in the United States. Their reception was much the same, and Bowfire parlayed the success into an extensive U.S. tour throughout 2002 and 2003.
Their reach became global soon after, as they made appearances in Asia. Ever since, Bowfire has been touring endlessly to adoring audiences across North America and elsewhere.
Perhaps best known for their cover of Led Zeppelin's epic tune "Kashmir," Solomon has assembled and eclectic mix of stringed instruments. Along with a bevy of fiddles and violins, the group is regularly joined by George Gao, who plays the Chinese erhu, which provides an interesting complement to the jazz and bluegrass-infused music they typically play.
Though Bowfire is Solomon's latest endeavor, it is certainly not his only one. The 58-year-old musician has recorded with a long list of venerable acts including Nigel Kennedy, Anne Murray and John McDermott.
Before he founded Bowfire, the popular jazz violinist and composer performed with a number of different bands. He first broke into the music industry in the '60s as a member of the popular duo Myles and Lenny. Together with partner Myles Cohen, the band had a promising start before breaking up in the mid '70s.
Throughout the '80s, Solomon performed in a string quintet, Quintessence, but it wasn't until the '90s that he found his stride. He toured with two groups, the Lenny Solomon Trio and The Galaxy Trio, both of which helped lay the foundation for Bowfire's formation. With a sound unlike any other around, it is unlikely that Bowfire will be struggling to find fans to fill seats at their one-of-a-kind shows.